Tuesday, November 29, 2011

You are invited to join me, as I unravel the mysteries of Watercolors! My "Short-Cuts" include my special tips, tricks and techniques as well as sharing ideas for repairs and fixes for your paintings. Come and find out more ideas for unique approaches for painting watercolors with tips for executing both basic and advanced techniques in both traditional and experimental watercolor!

If you have ever attended one of my demos or workshops, you know that I always has lots of tricks and new things to share!

This is a great demo for all levels of watercolor painting so bring your watercolor questions and join me!!

"This Winter Landscape Card has been one of my most popular eLessons on my website. I've received many requests to make a DVD to show each step...so here it is!" ...Susie Short

Along with the DVD I'll include the written guidelines and tips along with the painting layout guides and pattern from the original 5 x 7 greeting card e-lesson. I'll also include a copy of the original card used for this e-lesson plus a copy of the card I painted while filming this DVD.See a Preview Clip of this DVD

Monday, September 12, 2011

Today is day three of the WORLDWIDE Paint Out. My painting partner for today is Ann Breckon. We enjoyed the sounds of songbirds and water falling gently over the rocks in the little stream while we painting our watercolor skeches. The weather (sunny 86 degrees with a nice cool breeze) was perfect!As usual, I visited with the guests in the garden as much as I painted so my sketch of this little waterfall and water lilies still needs some finishing touches.

Today also marks the 10th anniversary of the attack on America on 9-11-2001. As we listened to the airplanes taking off and landing at the nearby SeaTac Airport, we were reminded of the changes that day made in our own lives.

We are so blessed to live in this amazing country and have to freedoms that the brave men and women in our armed services fight and give their lives for us to enjoy.

THANK YOU!

Words not quite adequite for all the represent, but sometimes simply the best way to let them know they are appreciated. We will never forget the sacrifices made on 9-11.

Watch for the scans.....I'll post them in the next few days. Till then...keep those brushes wet! SUSIE

For day two of the paint out weekend I chose the Soos Creek Botanical Garden in the Auburn/Kent area. It was a solo painting day so I looked for a spot close to home. I have to admit the day didn't have as much time for painting as I would have liked but I did get in some quick sketches and took several photos. I've never visited this garden before today so it was an adventure! This is an established private garden that only recently was opened to the public. This lovely garden is more of a strolling garden. While quick sketches from the paths are possible, painting for several hours in a single spot could prove to be challengeing.

I need to scan my sketches so I can post them.

SUSIE

The WORLDWIDE PAINTOUT is happening simultaneously in international locations and I am proud to be a part of this 9th WORLDWIDE group event hosted by International Plein Air Painters.﻿﻿International Plein Air Painters (IPAP) is a blanket organization created for the sole purpose of advancing the execution and enjoyment of plein air painting without the restrictions and limitations of borders or regions. IPAP's members are the quiet activists in the ongoing environmental struggle. More about IPAP:They call attention to the threatened urban scene and the vanishing farmland for history. IPAP members share inspiration and encouragement both on the Internet and at "paint outs".They encourage other artists to get out and do it, to paint with other artists and share ideas.

You can join or show your support for IPAP or learn more about the group and see some of the many events happening posted on the website www.i-p-a-p.com

Friday, Sept 9, 2011 -- Day one of a three day weekend of Plein Air Painting

Woodland Park Rose Garden, Seattle, WA

My painting partner joining me for the day was plein air artist Mike Mallory of Everett, WA

Susie Short and Mike Mallory - Charter members of IPAP

The weather was warm and sunny and the location was the perfect setting for painting on location. Mike selected the sunny lily pond as his subject, while I found a shady spot with a great view of the quaint gazebo. It's always fun to share our joy for painting with the people who stop by to see what we are doing. It goes without saying, compliments and encouragement is always welcome, but for most of us who paint on location it's rewarding to be able to freely express our impressions of an inspiring spot and use the talents we are blessed with. And having a nice painting pal to share the day with doubles the pleasure!

Thanks for joining me Mike! It was fun and we both ended up with good paintings to boot!

Even though I'm a little late with my post, I want to report on the fun day at the 5th annual Ice Cream Social and Plant Sale at the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden. This year's Celebrity Guest was Ciscoe Morris, who hosts "Gardening with Ciscoe" on KIRO 97.3 FM radio and KING 5/NWCN television, and is the author of the best-selling garden tome, "Ask Ciscoe", as well as a weekly column in the Seattle Times. As always Ciscoe was very entertaining and loaded with information on plants and gardening.

My donation to the event was to paint a scene from the garden on location (en plein air). I started my demo around 11:00 am and completed the painting in the photo above by 3:00 pm just in time for the silent auction. I enjoyed meeting so many nice people while sharing the art of painting on location in such a beautiful setting.

Wendy Morgan from SeaTac had the winning bid and proudly took my watercolor painting to its new home.

Thanks to Laura Sweany and the nice folks at Highline Seatac Botanical Garden for inviting me to participate in this fun event! I look forward to doing it again!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Yesterday's sunshine is hiding behind the clouds this morning. But the lighting is good for photos.

I wandered around the Woodland Park Rose Garden taking photos and deciding where I wanted to set up my easel. About 15 minutes after I got everything set up it started to drizzle. Drizzle turned into rain and so I sat under my beach umbrella like a mother hen with all my painting gear stashed under my chair. From my sheltered spot I could still see some lovely rosebuds so I started a rosebud sampler page in my sketchbook.

For Day Two of my plein air weekend my destination was the beautiful rose gardens in Point Defiance Park. Accredited by the American Rose Society as an All American Rose selection display garden, Point Defiance Park has more than an acre of rose gardens, the oldest of which was established in 1895. The site includes a garden of miniature roses, arbors of climbing roses, and a quaint gazebo encircled by fragrant rose bushes.

After walking through the garden and taking some great shots of the beautiful roses I selected a seat in the shade of the gazebo and painted this soft peachy colored rose named Summer Dream.

"Altissimo" is a very tall bright red rose that always catches my attention. This quick sketch catches this beauty as it appeared against the clear blue sky. Too bad this rose doesn't live in my own back yard so I could see the rest of those little bud open and bloom.﻿

My selection for the afternoon was this stunning bouquet of bright yellow orange roses named "About Face."
The variety of colors in this grouping was fun to paint and kept the painting interesting. The sun moved quicker than I could paint and visit with those passing by. As you can see the shadow of the gazebo started to block the sunshine and remind me that my time was running out.

About Face Sketch by Susie Short

Day Two was a success. Ahh, I'm happy!
Tomorrow is another day...... to paint!

Since my plein aire "Short Trip" to Mt Rainier was postponed due to the weather, I decided to take advantage of the time I'd set aside for painting and visit some wonderful gardens in the area. Roses were my intended target but at these gardens there are other attractions that can be very tempting to paint too.Friday July 29, 2011 Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden
Say Hello to Madeline! This adorable little artist painted along with me in Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden. Madeline will celebrate her seventh birthday August 5, 2011. I hope she gets some painting supplies for her birthday, she's got talent!!!

This is the spot in the garden where I painted with Madeline during the morning of July 29th. I was having too much fun chatting with the people visiting the garden and didn't finish my sketch before the light moved changing all the shadows. At the right is the sketch I painted before the light shifted, as you can see it remains a work in progress. If I can't make it back to the garden soon I'll finish it in my studio from the photos I took or better yet, paint the rest from memory. The sketches in my sketchbook are basically my "notes" to remind me of the colors, textures, and mood I experienced while on location.

Friday afternoon I moved to a shady spot with a good view of the water fountain near the heart of the rose garden. The fragrance in this area was heavenly! On the right you can see the first stages of my sketch of the fountain with the purple clematis climbing on the trellis in the background.
As you can see the sun was brightly shinning and the cast shadows made my subject even more intriguing and challenging.

My painting style includes a technique that is sometimes referred to as "alla prima."
Definition: ...with little or no preparation...in other words, I don't draw my subject before I start painting. I like to say "I draw with my brush as I paint."
As shown in the second photo I was able to add some of the roses and background to my sketch before I quit for the day. Again, the finishing touches will be added later. But I did get in most of the details on the fountain and I'm pleased with my little sketch.

These nice ladies were enjoying the garden and stopped for awhile to watch me paint and were kind enough to take my photo while I was painting.

Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden is located next to the community center north of the airport 13735 24th Ave S, SeaTac, WA See Map
If you speak to the nice staff when you visit tell them "Susie sent you!"

SWAP is an international group of watercolor artists who have been exchanging small 5 x 7 works of art quarterly each year since 2003. Sadly, our group has run its course and we will no longer trade paintings under the same leadership. It's been a wonderful experience for all of us! We made good friends and shared good art!
The painting on the left is my painting for my friend, Michelle Himes.

The painting of the rose on the right is for my friend, M.T. Cherian who lives in India.

I thought a Peace Rose was a good choice for the final SWAP.

To all my partners and friends at SWAP I wish you well and ask that you stay in touch. Happy Painting!

Greeting Card Give Away Winner M.J. McMasters
from Chattanooga, Tenn
M.J. received 6 note cards of this painting"Birdhouse in the Garden"
by Susie Short

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Also.....Congratulations go to the May Give Away winnerMargie Reyes
from San Antonio, Texas
She gets a gift set of 6 greeting cards with this

"Butterfly on Verbena" painting.

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My apology for the delay in announcing the winners. I appreciate all of the 400+ entries each month. Please remember to register again for the next Give Away.
All entries are removed from the hat and only the new entries qualify for the current contest.
Thanks again for your interest! Susie

About Me

I love to paint! It's been a passion since my teens and along my journey I've been blessed to have studied with some of the best watercolorists of our time. Now, its my turn to share my love and knowlege with others. Visit my website to see more of my watercolor tips, mini lessons and to order latest DVDs and videos. Susie Short's Watercolor Learning Center